Toner Ink News: OKI Quits and Xerox Looks to China

Author notice. I have been producing this technical information service since 1983. Initially, it was in the form of hardcopy where separate versions were provided for toner and inkjet and included complete patent copies. We switched to a digital version around 2003 and have been providing a combined toner/inkjet version since then. We have decided that December will be the last issue for this newsletter. I have been in this industry for 48 years and it is time to focus on other interests. I will remain involved in the digital imaging industry with limited consulting and where appropriate assistance with research projects via industry laboratory connections. If there is any reader interested in continuing this newsletter, please contact me (contact details below).

A major this month was Oki Data’s announcement that they would as of March 31, 2021, discontinue selling printers in North, Central and South America but continue as usual in Japan and Asia. The LED-based Oki printers held a special place in certain segments of the market as they offered both reasonably priced A3 sizes and a fifth developer station that could print white, especially useful for textile printing. Oki will continue to supply consumables, parts and warranty service. According to the announcement, this the result of a changing printer market caused by the Covid-19 virus.

Last month we reported that Xerox had introduced its own line of competitive aftermarket toner products. According to industry sources, the “Xerox Everyday Toner” is believed to be a clone product coming from China’s dominant toner supplier Ninestar. In addition, Xerox is believed to be supplying a line of remanufactured cartridges coming from Clover, which would seem to compete with the “Xerox Everyday Toner.”

The COVID virus has not affected all printing markets equally. According to industry consultant firm IDC’s Worldwide Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, the 2nd quarter of 2020 saw 20 million peripheral shipments, which was a decline of 10.2% year-over-year. However, the consumer segment, especially monochrome laser and inkjet showed small growth